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The Agricultural Transition Period 2021 to 2024 Adviser Pack: Information and resources about the upcoming changes to English agricultural policy Date: November 2020 Version: 1
We are the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. We’re responsible for
improving and protecting the environment, growing the green economy and supporting our
world-class food, farming and fishing industries.
We work closely with our 33 agencies and arm’s length bodies on our ambition to make our
air purer, our water cleaner, our land greener and our food more sustainable. Our mission
is to restore and enhance the environment for the next generation, and to leave the
environment in a better state than we found it.
© Crown copyright 2020
This information is licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. To view this
licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/
This publication is available at www.gov.uk/government/publications
Any enquiries regarding this publication should be sent to us at
ffcpengagement@defra.gov.uk
www.gov.uk/defra
For more information on the changes over the agricultural transition period, please read
The Path to Sustainable Farming: An Agricultural Transition Plan 2021 to 2024
2 of 33Contents
Contents .....................................................................................................................................3
How to use this pack .................................................................................................................4
Introduction ................................................................................................................................5
Timeline and eligibility of new schemes ...................................................................................6
Key changes for 2021 ...............................................................................................................8
Background information ............................................................................................................9
Stay up to date...........................................................................................................................9
Feedback ...................................................................................................................................9
Questions & Answers ..............................................................................................................10
For more information on the changes over the agricultural transition period, please read
The Path to Sustainable Farming: An Agricultural Transition Plan 2021 to 2024
3 of 33How to use this pack
This pack provides a summary of the important changes taking place over the agricultural
transition. More detail can be found in The Path to Sustainable Farming: An Agricultural
Transition Plan 2021 to 2024.
We would like you to familiarise yourself with the inf ormation in this pack, so you can
confidently advise farmers and land managers about the future of farming.
With your help, we can ensure that all of those involved in English agriculture and land
management are aware of the agricultural transition period and prepared for the upcoming
changes that affect them.
Alongside this pack, we have published a booklet called Farming is Changing. It
summarises the content of the plan, and is aimed at farmers and land managers.
Please feel free to share the booklet with whomever you think would be interested.
For more information on the changes over the agricultural transition period, please read
The Path to Sustainable Farming: An Agricultural Transition Plan 2021 to 2024
4 of 33Introduction
Now we've left the EU, we have a once in a generation opportunity to shape English
agricultural policy to suit our needs, wants and priorities.
By 2028, we want to see:
• a renewed agricultural sector, producing healthy food for consumption at home and
abroad, where farms can be profitable and economically sustainable without
subsidy.
• farming and the countryside contributing significantly to environmental goals
including addressing climate change.
Direct Payments offer poor value for money, reward those with most land, inflate rents and
stand in the way of new entrants.
As such, Defra will be phasing out Direct Payments starting in 2021. Using the money that’s
freed up, we will introduce a new system that rewards farmers and other land managers for
delivering public goods that improve the environment.
Defra will make changes to cross compliance, moving away from defaulting to financial
penalties and using proportionate measures and will make further simplifications to the 2021
Basic Payment Scheme.
Defra will provide grants to farmers, foresters and growers so that they can invest in
equipment, technology and infrastructure that will help their businesses to prosper while
improving their productivity and enhancing the environment.
Defra will collaborate with stakeholders to develop a new regulatory system. We will
introduce a regulatory system that effectively addresses breaches but is also adaptable and
proportionate.
These changes will be made over a seven-year transition period, to give farmers time to
adapt and plan for the future. Defra will continue to run a number of familiar schemes in the
first few years of the transition. This means farmers and land managers can plan and
prepare for the future while continuing to receive income for the great work they’re doing.
Wherever we can, we will co-design our policy and schemes in partnership with the
agricultural sector, engaging at every step of the way to design our services based on the
needs of the people using them. This will make sure our policies and services work for those
people who are affected by them.
For more information on the changes over the agricultural transition period, please read
The Path to Sustainable Farming: An Agricultural Transition Plan 2021 to 2024
5 of 33Timeline and eligibility of new schemes
These are our expected dates, but they are subject to change.
Environmental and animal outcomes
Foresters/
Further Applications
Scheme Arable Livestock woodland Growers Start End
info open
managers
New Y Y Y Y Feb – Feb – March Each 2023
Countryside March 2021 year scheme
Stewardship 2021 usually year for
agreements from 2024
and Capital Feb / starts
Grants March
Forestry Y Y Y Y All year 2020 TBC
Commission
Incentives
Farmers in Y Y Y Y Feb April 2024
Protected 2021 2021
Landscapes
Tree Health Y Y Y Y Apr 2021 Aug 2021 Oct 2024
Pilot 2021
Tree Health Y Y Y Y 2024 2024 2024 N/A
Scheme
Animal Health Y 2021 2022 2022 TBC
and Welfare
Pathway
Funding
Environmental Land Management
Applications
Scheme Further info Start End
open
Tests and trials Quarterly Ongoing 2018 2024 and beyond
reports
For more information on the changes over the agricultural transition period, please read
The Path to Sustainable Farming: An Agricultural Transition Plan 2021 to 2024
6 of 33National Pilot – Sustainable Spring 2021
Farming Incentive (SFI)
SFI 2022 Spring/summer 2021/22 2022 2024
2021
SFI 2021 2024 2024 N/A
National Pilot – Local Nature Summer 2021 2022 2024
Recovery
Local Nature Recovery 2021 2024 N/A
National Pilot – Landscape Summer 2021 2022 2024 (agreements will last
Recovery beyond this date)
Landscape Recovery 2021 2024 N/A
Please see the Environmental Land Management section of the booklet for more
information on eligibility.
Improving farming prosperity
Foresters/
Further Applications
Scheme Arable Livestock woodland Growers Start End
info open
managers
Farm Y Y Y Y Mar June 2021 May Oct 2024
Resilience 2021 2021
Scheme
(phase 2)
Farming Y Y Y Y Apr Dec 2021 Dec 2026
Investment 2021 2021
Fund –
Equipment &
Technology,
and
Transformation
Innovation Y Y Y Y Oct 2022 2022 2028
Research & 2021
Development
Scheme
For more information on the changes over the agricultural transition period, please read
The Path to Sustainable Farming: An Agricultural Transition Plan 2021 to 2024
7 of 33Slurry 2022 2022 Autumn 2025
Investment 2022
Scheme
New Entrant Nov 2022 2022 2024
Support 2021
Scheme
Slurry Investment Scheme – initial focus for eligibility will be on those locations where
environmental impact will be greatest and at viable businesses seeking to invest in
improved slurry storage.
New Entrant Support Scheme – Defra will design the scheme, including eligibility, in
partnership with stakeholders.
Direct Payments, lump sum and delinking
Applications
Scheme Further info Start End
open
Lump Sum Exit Scheme July 2021 2022 2022 TBC
(subject to consultation
Delinked payments 2024 2024 2024 2027
To be eligible, it may be necessary to have claimed, and been eligible, under the Basic
Payment Scheme in a particular scheme year or years.
Key changes for 2021
Important changes include:
• a reduction in Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) payments
• the removal of greening rules
• additional support through schemes and grants (funded through the BPS
reductions) to help farmers invest in environmental and productivity improvements
• enhancements to existing schemes
For more information on the changes over the agricultural transition period, please read
The Path to Sustainable Farming: An Agricultural Transition Plan 2021 to 2024
8 of 33• improvements to cross compliance
• begin a National Pilot of Environmental Land Management for up to 5,500 farmers
who want to be involved helping us to learn and co-design the full ambition for our
new schemes
• support to build resilience during the early years of the transition
Background information
• ‘The future for food, farming and the environment: policy statement' (February
2020)
• Environmental Land Management policy discussion document (February 2020)
• ‘Health and Harmony: the future for food, farming and the environment in a Green
Brexit - policy statement' (September 2018)
Stay up to date
• Sign up to Defra e-alerts for the latest information on farming
• Read the new Future Farming and Countryside Programme GOV.UK blog
Feedback
If you have any feedback on this pack or would like to ask us a question, please email
ffcpengagement@defra.gov.uk.
For more information on the changes over the agricultural transition period, please read
The Path to Sustainable Farming: An Agricultural Transition Plan 2021 to 2024
9 of 33Questions & Answers
General questions ................................................................................................................11
The Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) and Direct Payments ................................................16
Countryside stewardship and other existing schemes.......................................................19
Environmental Land Management ......................................................................................23
Communications ..................................................................................................................32
For more information on the changes over the agricultural transition period, please read
The Path to Sustainable Farming: An Agricultural Transition Plan 2021 to 2024
10 of 33General questions
What is the Agricultural Transition?
The agricultural transition period will start on 1 January 2021 and run to the end of 2027.
Between 2021 and 2027, the government will gradually phase out Direct Payments and
introduce a new system based on the principle of public money for public goods.
We will pay farmers1 to improve the environment, improve animal health and welfare and
reduce carbon emissions.
There will be three levels of support aimed at paying for sustainable farming practices,
creating habitats for nature recovery and making landscape-scale change such as
establishing new woodland and other ecosystem services. Some options will be
universally open to all farmers and land managers, while others will be more targeted at a
smaller number of large projects.
There will also be significant grants made available to support farmers to reduce their
costs and improve their profitability, to help those who want to retire or leave the industry,
and to create new opportunities and support for new entrants coming into the industry.
What are the specific outcomes we are hoping to achieve?
We aim to design and administer schemes in a way that:
• will support farming and the countryside to make a significant and widespread
contribution to environmental, biodiversity and climate change goals including by
reducing greenhouse gas emissions
• is trusted by the sector
• attracts wide participation – we want to increase participation rates in environmental
land management schemes from the current 30% to more than 70% of farmers by
the end of the transition, with even higher participation in the Sustainable Farming
Incentive
• supports a sustainable and vibrant sector
For more information on the changes over the agricultural transition period, please read
The Path to Sustainable Farming: An Agricultural Transition Plan 2021 to 2024
11 of 33We are developing smart objectives for Environmental Land Management, which we will
publish in due course and then keep under review throughout the transition.
We will publish an annual report about our progress through the transition, what we are
aiming to achieve and how we are performing against our aims.
How long will the Agricultural Transition Period be?
The agricultural transition period will start on 1 January 2021 and run to the end of 2027.
Why do you talk about just farmers in the Agricultural Transition Plan?
For the purpose of that document, ‘farmers’ refers to farmers, land managers, growers and
foresters unless specified otherwise.
What will happen over the Agricultural Transition Period?
• The government will gradually phase out Direct Payments and existing agri-
environment schemes in a gradual, smooth and orderly way, starting in 2021, with
the last Direct Payments being made in 2027
• Introduce our Environmental Land Management approach to agri-environment
schemes, through pilots and tests from 2021-2024; early roll out of some core
elements of all components2, particularly the Sustainable Farming Incentive, from
2022; with all three components fully available from 2024.
• Establish an Animal Health and Welfare Pathway
• Provide grant support to help farmers maintain and improve productivity, invest in
research and development and sustainability through the transition
• Replace EU-scheme-based regulation and enforcement with a new, more effective
and trusted approach
• Provide advice and guidance to farmers to help them make the right decisions for
their circumstances
2 We refer to components, when previously we have said tiers
For more information on the changes over the agricultural transition period, please read
The Path to Sustainable Farming: An Agricultural Transition Plan 2021 to 2024
12 of 33• Help people through the transition, including with business planning, training and
advice; and an exit scheme for farmers, so those who wish to leave the sector can
do so
How will you guarantee that we can maintain food standards while
taking advantage of the opportunity to strike new trade deals?
The government wants consumers to continue to have a wide range of choice of high-quality
food products at affordable prices, and to ensure that we have a sufficiently and
appropriately skilled workforce able to meet the demands of the industry.
At the same time, to be clear, it is our priority to maintain the UK’s high standards of food
safety and animal health and welfare. As part of any future trade deals, we will not water
down our standards on food safety, animal health and welfare and environmental protection.
The Withdrawal Act will transfer onto the UK statute book all EU food safety and animal
welfare standards. Our current high standards, including import requirements, will apply
when we leave the EU.
The government is proud of our high standards and maintaining safety and public confidence
in the food we eat is of the highest priority and any future trade deal must work for UK
farmers, businesses, and consumers.
The government has set up a Trade and Agriculture Commission, which is an advisory board
set up to advise and inform our agricultural trade policies. The government is now extending
the Trade and Agriculture Commission for up to three years, when it will be reviewed. It will
be put on a statutory footing in the Trade Bill. Further details on updated remit and
membership are being developed by departments.
The Agriculture Act requires Ministers to report to Parliament on the impact of UK trade
agreements on maintaining our existing food, animal welfare and environmental standards.
The Commission will be able to feed directly into this statutory reporting process.
This is part of the government’s ambition to place farmers at the heart of its trade policy and
will allow Parliamentarians access to independent and expert advice when reviewing the
impact of each trade deal on farming.
For more information on the changes over the agricultural transition period, please read
The Path to Sustainable Farming: An Agricultural Transition Plan 2021 to 2024
13 of 33What do the changes mean for farmers and land managers?
By 2028, farmers and land managers will:
• run environmentally sustainable businesses that don’t need to rely on public
subsidy
• manage their business in a way that delivers profitable food production and the
recovery of nature
• be able to get access to public money to help them deliver environmental, animal
welfare and climate change outcomes
• meet clear, relevant and outcome-focused legal standards
• work more with each other to improve the environment and their productivity
• manage the inherent risks of producing food, such as the weather and market
volatility, while knowing that government has the powers in law to intervene in truly
exceptional market conditions.
What the schemes will pay for:
Name Summary Payments
Sustainable Will pay for actions to manage land in • To be determined
Farming an environmentally sustainable way.
Incentive Actions will be grouped into simple
packages to make it as easy as
possible for farmers to identify what
actions are best suited to their land.
Local Nature Will pay for actions that support local • To be determined
Recovery nature recovery and deliver local
environmental priorities
Landscape Will support the delivery of landscape • To be determined
Recovery and ecosystem recovery through long-
term, land use change projects
For more information on the changes over the agricultural transition period, please read
The Path to Sustainable Farming: An Agricultural Transition Plan 2021 to 2024
14 of 33Tree health Will expand and improve on the current • Felling and treatment
support available via the Countryside of diseased trees
Stewardship (CS) Tree Health grants • Restocking following
felling
Farming in Will help farmers in Protected Spend each year will be split
Protected Landscapes diversify their income between two areas:
Landscapes streams and lay the groundwork for
Environmental Land Management • Farm-level support
• Wider infrastructure
and projects
Slurry Will help farmers to invest in new slurry We propose that funding
investment stores that exceed current regulatory would be given to:
Scheme requirements and are proofed against
higher standards that we expect to • meet a proportion of
introduce in the future one-off capital cost of
new stores and
impermeable covers
• pay for a proportion
of other associated
equipment (pumps,
pipework, access,
reception tanks etc.)
It will not include funding
future maintenance or
planning costs
Farming Will incentivise and support the Competitive scheme. Will be
Investment purchase of equipment, technology split into two strands for low
Fund and infrastructure to support and high-value investments,
environmentally sustainable farming each with a different
and land management application process
Grants will be available for a
proportion of the total cost of
investment
New Will provide funding to create lasting We will provide funding to
Entrants opportunities for new entrants to enable the creation of more
access land, infrastructure and support start-up innovation hubs
For more information on the changes over the agricultural transition period, please read
The Path to Sustainable Farming: An Agricultural Transition Plan 2021 to 2024
15 of 33Support to establish successful and innovative providing new entrants
Scheme businesses working with Council access to the land,
Farms and other landowners. infrastructure and support
they need to thrive
Animal Will support farmers in producing In 2022 - we are considering
Health and healthier, higher-welfare animals by offering capital grants and
Welfare providing financial assistance, financial support for vet
Pathway strengthening the baseline of visits for health and welfare
regulation and improving consumer management planning and
transparency diagnostic testing
In 2023 - there are plans to
introduce further support for
endemic disease control
and for phasing in
payments-by-results
Farm This will be a time limited scheme The scheme will provide
Resilience operating during the first three years of funding so farmers
the transition, up until 2024. It will can access specialist,
target support at individuals and trusted support
businesses most affected by the It will focus on helping
removal of Direct Payments farmers to make the right
decisions for them. The
scheme will signpost the
wider support available
to farmers, including
wellbeing
The Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) and Direct
Payments
What changes are happening to the Basic Payment Scheme (BPS)?
From 2021, reductions will come into effect. [see green table below under ‘what will be my
Direct Payment reductions?’].
For more information on the changes over the agricultural transition period, please read
The Path to Sustainable Farming: An Agricultural Transition Plan 2021 to 2024
16 of 33We will initially make larger reductions from those who receive the largest amounts. We
think this is the fairest way and the best way to help people manage the transition in a
sustainable way for their businesses.
Simplifications to BPS
Further simplifications to the Basic Payment Scheme include:
• the removal of greening rules
• removing the requirement for farmers to use all their payment entitlements at least
once every two years
• removing the requirement for farm businesses with land in England and another UK
nation to have all their land treated as one ‘holding’ for the purposes of the BPS
• extending the application period for force majeure applications to 8 weeks
What will be my Direct Payment reductions?
Payment Band 2021 2022 2023 2024
scheme scheme scheme scheme
year year year year
£30,000 5% 20% 35% 50%
£30,000 to £50,000 10% 25% 40% 55%
£50,000 to £150,000 20% 35% 50% 65%
£150,000 25% 40% 55% 70%
For example, for the 2021 scheme year, for a claim worth £40,000:
1. A 5% reduction would be applied to the first £30,000 (a reduction of £1,500)
2. Plus a 10% reduction would be applied to the next £10,000 (a reduction of £1,000)
3. So, the revised payment would be reduced by £2,500 to £37,500
For more information on the changes over the agricultural transition period, please read
The Path to Sustainable Farming: An Agricultural Transition Plan 2021 to 2024
17 of 33The following table shows the payment value, after progressive reductions, for the 2021-
2024 scheme years.
Payment New value
New value for New value for New value for
value before for 2024
2021 scheme 2022 scheme 2023 scheme
progressive scheme
year year year
reductions year
£5,000 £4,750 £4,000 £3,250 £2,500
£10,000 £9,500 £8,000 £6,500 £5,000
£20,000 £19,000 £16,000 £13,000 £10,000
£40,000 £37,500 £31,500 £25,500 £19,500
£80,000 £70,500 £58,500 £46,500 £34,500
£160,000 £134,000 £110,000 £86,000 £62,000
The reduction percentages will be increased until the final payments are made for the
2027 scheme year. No BPS payments or delinked payments will be made after the 2027
scheme year.
What is happening with delinked payments?
BPS will be replaced with ‘delinked’ payments. When payments are delinked, you won’t
have to farm the land to receive the payments, until they have been phased out.
A farmer may get delinked payments even if they choose to stop farming altogether.
Those who continue farming will still have to comply with standards on the environment,
plant health, and animal welfare.
Eligibility for delinked payments will be based on a reference period.
For example, it may be necessary to have claimed, and been eligible, under BPS in a
particular scheme year or years.
We’ll consult farmers and land managers in early 2021 before setting the reference
period and deciding when to introduce delinked payments.
We intend to delink payments in 2024.
For more information on the changes over the agricultural transition period, please read
The Path to Sustainable Farming: An Agricultural Transition Plan 2021 to 2024
18 of 33What will happen to cross-compliance/standards when you delink
payments?
Cross compliance requirements and standards will continue until we delink. After that we
will move to a new regulatory regime, which we’ll be developing between 2021 and 2024.
Changes to cross-compliance on 2021
From 2021 a series of changes to compliance will be introduced. These include:
• Timely notifications ahead of penalties
• A new approach to inspections. Inspections will be targeted to those who are at
higher risk or operate in high risk areas. More information will be provided before an
inspection and reports will be issued promptly.
• Further guidance will be introduced to make sure farmers are aware of their
obligations. The Farm Advisory Service will continue and there will be review of
cross-compliance guidance
What is the lump sum exit scheme?
Farmers could be offered a lump sum in place of any further BPS and delinked payments
to which they would have been entitled.
We’re planning to offer the optional lump sum payments in 2022 for those who wish to
leave the industry.
We will set the rules for lump sum payments following consultation with farmers.
Countryside stewardship and other existing
schemes
What will happen to my Countryside Stewardship (CS) agreement?
• Extensions to Countryside Stewardship (CS) and Environmental Stewardship (ES)
will be available for those who already have an agreement which is achieving
positive environmental outcomes, and who wish to continue their agreement
For more information on the changes over the agricultural transition period, please read
The Path to Sustainable Farming: An Agricultural Transition Plan 2021 to 2024
19 of 33• Anyone in a CS agreement that starts from January 2021 who secures a
place in Environmental Land Management will be able to withdraw without
penalty at agreed exit points
• Applications can be made for the simplified CS scheme until 2023, for
agreements starting in 2024. After 2023, applications will be through the
Environmental Land Management scheme
What will change to Countryside Stewardship (CS) in 2021?
• We’ll continue to make the scheme work better for people, including
improving the way we do inspections and compliance.
• Anyone in a CS agreement that starts from January 2021 who secures a
place in Environmental Land Management will be able to withdraw without
penalty at agreed exit points
We intend to introduce further changes to support continued delivery of our 25 Year
Environment Plan goals. These include plans to:
• expand educational access provision to farmers and land managers in Mid-
Tier agreements to let school pupils visit farms for educational experiences
and for care farming visits
• broaden the advice we provide as part of the Catchment Sensitive Farming
scheme so that it includes advice on air quality and flood mitigation, as well
as on diffuse water pollution
• widen the scope of some our current capital grants to cover air quality and
introduce two new capital options specifically to address air quality issues
• increase the maximum level of funding available under capital only grants to
£20,000 for hedgerow and boundary and water quality improvements. We
will also be expanding the range of capital grants available in the
standalone capital only offer to better complement the wildlife offers
• expand the eligibility of the upland option ‘Management of rough grazing for
birds’ to allow it to be available in wider areas
• bring woodland creation and woodland maintenance options together so
that one automatically flows into the other
• look to run a further round of the Facilitation Fund to help groups of farmers
and other land managers work together to improve the natural environment
at a landscape scale and achieve greater improvements than individual
holdings could on their own
For more information on the changes over the agricultural transition period, please read
The Path to Sustainable Farming: An Agricultural Transition Plan 2021 to 2024
20 of 33What does a Countryside Stewardship (CS) agreement offer?
Name Length of What it covers
agreement
Higher 5, 10-year Full range of options, supplements and capital items for environmentally
Tier (and in some significant sites, commons and woodlands
cases 20-
year) Largely focused on expiring HLS agreements that require re-negotiation
agreements and new capital works, and on woodland management
Mid- 5 years Provides a mixture of revenue payment options, supplements and
Tier capital items to achieve simple and effective environmental benefits
Wildlife 5 year Lowland farming, mixed, upland and arable. Quick and simple to apply
offers revenue only for. They are not scored, meaning that you will get an agreement if you
agreements make a valid application
Capital 2 year capital Capital items to deliver specific environmental outcomes, including
grants only hedgerows and boundary improvements, delivery of water and air
agreements quality objectives and planning for more complex Higher Tier
agreements
Also includes woodland creation grants, woodland tree health grants
and the development of woodland management plans
Am I eligible for a Countryside Stewardship (CS) agreement?
Each scheme has eligibility rules, and these apply to both the land and the farmer. Nearly
all farmers and land managers will be eligible to apply for one or more CS offer.
Name Type of What it covers / how to apply
agreement
Higher Tier Competitive Focussed on the highest quality environmental sites
Not every applicant who meets the minimum criteria will be offered
an agreement
The scheme funds restoration and management of habitats and
offers capital and revenue payments supported by dedicated
advisory support
For more information on the changes over the agricultural transition period, please read
The Path to Sustainable Farming: An Agricultural Transition Plan 2021 to 2024
21 of 33Mid-Tier Competitive Offers capital and revenue payments
Farmers should be able to apply themselves or use a local adviser
who understands the scheme and environmental issues
Wildlife Not Farmers choose the amount of area they want to put into the
offers competitive, scheme and are provided with an agreement
revenue
only
agreements
Capital Competitive Cover specific areas, such as hedgerow and boundary
grants improvements, and water and air quality objectives
Farmers and land managers might want to consider the combination of a Wildlife offer and
standalone capital grants.
We will provide more information when the next round of the scheme launches in 2021.
More details here.
What is the timing for the Countryside Stewardship (CS) agreements?
We will open a round of CS offers in early 2021 for agreements.
Thereafter, we intend to continue to offer CS during the next 2-3 years with the last
agreements starting in 2024. Where appropriate, we are extending Higher Level
Stewardship and CS agreements annually in 2022 and are looking at how best to extend
these further over the agricultural transition period.
What environmental schemes other than Countryside Stewardship (CS)
are available?
• From 2021 to 2024, a range of schemes will be introduced to help land managers
and farmers manage their land sustainably and prepare to take part in
Environmental Land Management from 2024 onwards
• Extensions to Countryside Stewardship (CS) and Environmental Stewardship (ES)
will be available for those who already have an agreement which is achieving
positive environmental outcomes, and who wish to continue their agreement
For more information on the changes over the agricultural transition period, please read
The Path to Sustainable Farming: An Agricultural Transition Plan 2021 to 2024
22 of 33• New CS agreements will be available until 2023 for those land managers who want
to undertake a wider range of more ambitious environmental activities and receive
capital payments
• The Environmental Land Management National Pilot will be available for up to
5,500 farmers and land managers who want to be involved helping us to learn and
co-design the full Environmental Land Management ambition. Expressions of
Interest will be collated in early 2021. The pilot will commence in late 2021
• Core elements of our Sustainable Farming Incentive, one of the components parts
of our Environmental Land Management offer, will be available to a wide range of
farmers and land managers from 2022 onwards
Funding will increase for delivery of environmental and climate actions in each year of the
early transition, using funding released from Direct Payment reductions as we move
towards roll out of Environmental Land Management.
What happens to RDPE agreements?
The agreements signed under the Rural Development Programme for England will be
honoured. This includes grants under Countryside Productivity, Rural Growth, Leader
Schemes, and the Agri-environment and Woodland agreements.
Environmental Land Management
What is Environmental Land Management?
This is the new way for government to pay farmers and land managers public money to
produce public goods.
We will pay farmers and land managers for delivering land management actions that
contribute to:
• clean and plentiful water
• clean air
• protection from and mitigation of environmental hazards
• mitigation of and adaptation to climate change
• thriving plants and wildlife
• beauty, heritage and engagement
For more information on the changes over the agricultural transition period, please read
The Path to Sustainable Farming: An Agricultural Transition Plan 2021 to 2024
23 of 33When will Environmental Land Management start?
Core elements of the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) will be available from 2022,
known as early SFI. We plan to introduce all three component parts of Environmental Land
Management in full from October 2024 onwards.
How will Environmental Land Management work?
Environmental Land Management is intended to support farmers to make a greater
contribution to the environment and biodiversity and to tackle climate change.
Environmental Land Management will introduce a new contract-based approach to paying
for public goods, with:
• more choice and control for farmers and land managers
• a greater focus on outcomes and the main practices and interventions that
support them, and less prescription than was required under EU schemes
• a fairer, more supportive and effective approach to compliance
What will Environmental Land Management pay for?
Environmental Land Management will be made up of three component parts, which taken
together will achieve the outcomes we’re aiming for:
Name Details Who can apply
Sustainable Will pay for actions that all farmers can do Available to a wide
Farming which will help them manage their land in an range of farmers
Incentive environmentally sustainable way
(SFI)
Local Will pay land managers for actions that support Open to farmers and
Nature and local nature recovery and deliver local other land managers
Recovery environmental priorities; making sure the right
things are delivered in the right places
Landscape Will support the delivery of landscape and Open to farmers and
Recovery ecosystem recovery through long-term, land other land managers
use change projects, including rewilding in
places where that’s appropriate
For more information on the changes over the agricultural transition period, please read
The Path to Sustainable Farming: An Agricultural Transition Plan 2021 to 2024
24 of 33Farmers and land managers will have flexibility to decide what they want to deliver and
can be involved in more than one component of Environmental Land Management. We will
provide guidance and advice from trusted sources to help people plan .
We haven’t decided exactly how much we will pay, or how we will determine the price –
we will do this through our national pilot and tests and trials, and through co-design with
farmers, land managers and stakeholders.
We will publish detailed information early in 2021 about what we will pay for in the
Sustainable Farming Incentive national pilot, but this will remain under review through the
pilot and our ongoing research and engagement before we finalise payment methods and
rates for 2022 onwards.
How do I get involved with Environmental Land Management?
From 2021 to 2024, we will provide a range of options to help farmers and land managers
manage their land sustainably and prepare to take part in our new schemes from 2024
onwards.
• Countryside Stewardship agreements will best prepare farmers and land managers
for the transition to Environmental Land Management as activity will facilitate a
smooth transition to the Sustainable Farming Incentive component
• The Environmental Land Management National Pilot will be available for up to
5,500 farmers and land managers who want to be involved helping us to learn and
co-design the full ambition
• Early elements of the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) will be available to all
farmers and land managers from 2022 onwards. This is known as early SFI
What is the Sustainable Farming Incentive?
• The Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) is one of the three components of our
Environmental Land Management offer
• In 2022 we will roll out of some core elements of the SFI. In its early years the
scheme will focus on supporting and maintaining environmentally sustainable
farming improvements that most farmers can make, e.g. soil and livestock
management, pesticide use and fertiliser use
For more information on the changes over the agricultural transition period, please read
The Path to Sustainable Farming: An Agricultural Transition Plan 2021 to 2024
25 of 33• Bringing forward the launch of the SFI will help more farmers start making
environmental, climate change and business sustainability improvements
• The aim is to make the SFI attractive and accessible to a wide range of farmers, to
help them maintain or introduce sustainable practices as a foundation for more
advanced improvements available through other components of Environmental
Land Management
• We know farmers need early information about this. We will publish details of the
scheme, what it will pay for and how to get involved by June 2021
• We plan to introduce all three component parts of Environmental Land
Management in full from October 2024 onwards
Am I eligible for the Sustainable Farming Incentive?
• In 2022 the SFI will be open to all Basic Payment Scheme recipients, including
those with existing environmental scheme agreements
• Farmers with existing environmental agreements will be able to apply for SFI
alongside their other agreements but will not be able to be paid for the same action
twice through different schemes
What are the timings for the Sustainable Farming Incentive?
• Early elements of the SFI will be rolled out in 2022, known as early SFI. The
scheme will launch in full in 2024
What are the Environmental Land Management tests and trials?
• We are developing Environmental Land Management in partnership with farmers,
land managers and other partners
• We are doing this through a series of tests and trials which is already underway and
through a National Pilot which will start in 2021
• There are around 70 tests and trials underway involving 3,000 people
• Tests and trials are designed to look at potential component parts of Environmental
Land Management (e.g. how best to construct land management plans, how best to
use advisers)
• The National Pilot will test how these components operate together in the context of
a fully functioning pilot version of Environmental Land Management
For more information on the changes over the agricultural transition period, please read
The Path to Sustainable Farming: An Agricultural Transition Plan 2021 to 2024
26 of 33• We will be starting some new tests and trials in 2021 and will publish information
early next year about how to take part
What is the National Pilot?
• The National Pilot will enable us to test and develop the real-world operation of
Environmental Land Management
• The learning from the pilot will be fed directly into the Environmental Land
Management scheme design and implementation planning for the roll-out of the full
scheme from 2024
• We will be publishing more information about the pilots and inviting expressions of
interest for the first round of pilots early in 2021
Am I eligible to take part in the National Pilot?
• Participants will be drawn from all parts of farming and land management
• We will also take account of other considerations, such as size of holding, tenure,
geography, level of digital access, and experience of farming/agri-environment
schemes
• We will publish more information about the pilots and invite expressions of interest
for the first round of pilots early in 2021
Do you get paid for taking part in the National Pilot?
Participants will be paid a competitive rate for taking part in the pilot. Payments will cover
the cost of delivering land management actions, and time spent actively contributing to
pilot learning.
Details are still to be confirmed and will be made available before we seek expressions of
interest for participation in the Pilot.
How do I apply for the National Pilot?
More information will be published and an expression of interest will commence in
2021.Places in the Pilot will be limited.
For more information on the changes over the agricultural transition period, please read
The Path to Sustainable Farming: An Agricultural Transition Plan 2021 to 2024
27 of 33We will share details of eligibility and how to get involved when we launch the pilot in
2021. Our current plan is:
• that recruitment will be staggered in three phases, to allow improvements
• involve over 1000 farmers in phase 1 of the Pilot, scaling up to around 5,500
farmers and land managers in total by the end of phase 3
Participants will enter into pilot agreements which will last until the pilot ends. So, those
who join early would be in the pilot longer than people who join later, and they’d all finish
together when the pilot ends in late 2024. We expect that participants will apply to transfer
to the full scheme once available, but that will be participants’ choice.
How does the National Pilot relate to the rollout of the SFI in 2021?
Defra will launch two major initiatives as precursors to the full 2024 version of the
Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI).
The SFI Pilot (part of the National Pilot) will be launched in late 2021 to engage many
hundreds of farmers in deep testing of ideas and approaches ahead of the full launch of
SFI 2024. This will include testing new ideas such as land management plans, and
working out what advice and support is required to help farmers to decide what type and
level of agreement they want to enter into.
Meanwhile SFI 2022 will be a fully functioning early version of the scheme, open to all the
c.88000 farmers who receive BPS, offering payment to undertake a subset of the
environmentally beneficial actions that will make up the full SFI in 2024. This will include
early rollout of the elements of SFI that we have already tested or are otherwise confident
in, and will be based on a self-service model, to help us understand and improve the way
we can make it possible for people to enter into agreements without requiring specialist
advice or support. We will continue to develop and expand early SFI between 2022 and
2024, including reflecting the findings of our pilot, until it includes all the elements of the
full scheme from 2024 onwards.
Once launched, the SFI pilot and SFI 2022 will run in parallel and both will inform
development of the full 2024 scheme.
What would you say to a farmer or land manager putting off planting
trees until Environmental Land Management is launched?
• In the longer-term the establishment of trees will be an important pillar of
Environmental Land Management.
For more information on the changes over the agricultural transition period, please read
The Path to Sustainable Farming: An Agricultural Transition Plan 2021 to 2024
28 of 33• We are working hard to ensure the support E.L.M. offers aligns with that under
Countryside Stewardship and the grants for woodland creation provided under the
Nature for Climate Fund, so there is a consistent offer. This will provide certainly to
those considering tree planting - there is no time like the present, economically as well
as environmentally, to establish trees.
• With E.L.M. in development, now is as good a time as any to take-up existing offers of
grant support for tree planting and woodland establishment.
• Anyone signing up to a grant agreement to plant woodland now will not be unfairly
disadvantaged when E.L.M. is introduced.
How will this all work for uplands / lowlands / livestock / organic / rare
and native breeds / dairy / arable / pigs / tenants / contractors / small
farms in the south west?
We know that we need to make sure that the schemes and initiatives we design and
deliver work for the full range of types and locations of farm. We’re working closely with
farmers and experts from the range of sectors and farm types to help us to do this.
Over 3,000 farmers with a wide range of farm and land types are helping to co-design the
new Environmental Land Management scheme through tests and trials. Over the course of
the 3 year national pilot we will refine our understanding of how the new scheme works to
make it as flexible and adaptable as it can be across the majority of land and business
types by the time of full roll out in 2024.
At the start of the national pilot initial technical guidance on how best to deliver
environmental benefits under the new scheme will be available to all, not just those
relatively small numbers participating in the national pilot. By Phase 2 of the national pilot
comprehensive technical guidance will be freely available. This will help all to understand
what they could do with their land and what the benefits potentially would be. We will keep
all of this guidance under review as we learn through tests, trials, the national pilot and our
ongoing research and engagement.
How are we going to set payment rates that are sensible, fair and
attractive?
We recognise that this is a really important issue, if we are going to attract more people
into Environmental Land Management than are currently in Countryside Stewardship
Schemes. We are looking at a range of options, and working with our engagement groups,
through our tests and trials and through our pilot to develop and test our ideas. We will
make decisions on payment rates for 2024 onwards, closer to the time.
For more information on the changes over the agricultural transition period, please read
The Path to Sustainable Farming: An Agricultural Transition Plan 2021 to 2024
29 of 33We will publish payment rates for the national pilot and early sustainable farming incentiv e
rollout early in 2021, and will keep these under review based on what we learn.
Environmental Land Management will introduce a new contract-based approach to paying
for public goods, with:
• more choice and control for farmers and land managers
• a greater focus on outcomes and the main practices and interventions that
support them, and less prescription than was required under EU schemes
• a fairer, more supportive and effective approach to compliance
We are still in the process of designing the future scheme, with 68 ongoing tests and trials
exploring how the building blocks of the scheme will work on the ground.
We are expecting to launch the National Pilot for the future scheme in late 2021, which will
build on the learnings of farmers involved in tests and trials and give the opportunity for
more farmers to get involved with the co-design of the scheme to make sure it is fit for our
farmers.
We will be continuing to work with farmers, land managers and other partners to co-design
these schemes from now until 2024.
What happens to people who are already in a scheme?
Extensions to Countryside Stewardship and Environmental Stewardship will be available
for those who already have an agreement which is achieving positive environmental
outcomes, and who wish to continue their agreement.
New Countryside Stewardship agreements will be available for those land managers who
want to undertake a wider range of more ambitious environmental activities and receive
capital payments in the first few years of the agricultural transition period.
When Environmental Land Management is fully rolled out, we will make sure there is a
smooth transition for those in existing agri-environment schemes or involved in pilots.
Farmers and managers entering into new Countryside Stewardship agreements from 2021
will be able to break those agreements at agreed points without penalty (through annual
break clauses), once they have secured a place in our new Environmental Land
Management schemes. This includes in a limited number of instances the national pilot.
For more information on the changes over the agricultural transition period, please read
The Path to Sustainable Farming: An Agricultural Transition Plan 2021 to 2024
30 of 33Where appropriate, we are extending Higher Level Stewardship and Countryside
Stewardship agreements into 2022, and we are looking at how best to extend these further
over the agricultural transition period.
We will also honour the full extent of agreements we’ve already signed under the Rural
Development Programme for England. This includes grants under the Countryside
Productivity, Rural Growth, LEADER schemes and agri-environment and woodland
agreements. These agreements continue to provide many benefits for farmers, the
environment and rural economy.
How are we going to allow flexibility to make sure things work on different
kinds of farm / location / other circumstance?
We’re already working that through by means of tests and trials and will test it further
throughout the 3-year national pilot.
When will you publish your response to the Environmental Land
Management Policy Discussion Document?
We published a discussion document earlier this year and have been reviewing the
responses, which were broadly supportive of our proposed approach. We will be
publishing the responses in early 2021.
How does Environmental Land Management relate to the 25 Year
Environment Plan?
The 25 Year Environment Plan, published in 2018, sets out our comprehensive and long-
term approach to protecting and enhancing our natural environment for the next generation.
The Environment Bill introduces measures including Local Nature Recovery Strategies,
Biodiversity Net Gain and Conservation Covenants. These will work together to incentivise
positive land management practices and support the delivery of Environmental Land
Management.
These measures will work together to help lay the foundation for a national Nature Recovery
Network (NRN). Further details on such actions and outcomes will be set out in our new
Nature Strategy for England, due for publication in 2021. The Nature Strategy will outline
how we will implement new global targets domestically and meet our 25 Year Environment
Plan goals for nature.
For more information on the changes over the agricultural transition period, please read
The Path to Sustainable Farming: An Agricultural Transition Plan 2021 to 2024
31 of 33Communications
What is the Agricultural Transition Plan 2021 to 2024?
The Path to Sustainable Farming: An Agricultural Transition Plan 2021 to 2024 sets out
the changes we are going to make to English agricultural policy, with a focus on 2021 to
2024. It explains what those changes will mean for farmers and land managers in practice.
What is the Farming is Changing booklet?
To accompany the Agricultural Transition Plan’s publication, we have published a booklet
called Farming is Changing. The booklet summarises the content of the Agricultural
Transition Plan, and is aimed at farmers and land managers.
Where can I get a hardcopy of the Farming is Changing booklet?
You can request a hardcopy of the booklet by emailing ruralpayments@defra.gov.uk
When will the National Food Strategy Part 2 be published?
Spring 2021.
When will you be doing more engagement?
What is it Purpose Audience When
Consultations
New Forest BPS Gather input to inform Farmers in New November – Feb
Consultation (led by policy solution Forest
RPA)
Productivity Gather input to inform Farmers February - May
Consultation policy solution (TBC)
De-linking and exit Gather input to inform Farmers February – May
scheme consultation policy solution (TBC)
For more information on the changes over the agricultural transition period, please read
The Path to Sustainable Farming: An Agricultural Transition Plan 2021 to 2024
32 of 33Co-design
workshops
R&E workshops Gather views/co-design Farmers, land November – March
Managers
Farm Resilience Gather views/co-design Farmers, land November – March
Initiative Managers (TBC)
New Entrants Gather views/co-design Farmers, land December - May
Scheme managers
Sustainable Farming Gather views/co-design Farmers, land December - May
Incentive Managers
Slurry grants Gather views/co-design Farmers January - March
How can I get more updates?
Sign up to the Defra e-alert to receive updates from us. Go to Defra.GOV.UK and scroll
down to the ‘Follow us’ section.
For more information on the changes over the agricultural transition period, please read
The Path to Sustainable Farming: An Agricultural Transition Plan 2021 to 2024
33 of 33You can also read
